About this place

The Orchid Pavilion is 13 kilometers away from the city center. During the Chunqiu dynasty, the king of Yue planted orchids here and later a pavillion was constructed here during the Han dynasty. Thus, there is a pretty simple explanation for the name of this popular tourist attraction today. The Orchid Pavilion is Shaoxing’s most famous landmark. Visitors have been making the journey to see the Orchid Pavillion for more than 1600 years. In 353 A.D., the noted calligrapher Wang Xizhi wrote some of his celebrated calligraphy here. Since then, the Orchid Pavilion has been known as a home of Calligraphy.

The main sights in the Orchid Pavilion are: the Goose Pool Stele, the Orchid Pavilion Stele, the Orchid Pavilion River, and the Calligraphy Museum. The Goose Pool Stele was created by the calligrapher Wang Xizhi and his son Wang Xianzhi. Wang Xizhi’s favourite animal was the goose, and the goose theme is prevalent throughout the Orchid Pavilion. The Orchid Pavilion is not only one of the four famous pavilions in China, but is also a famed garden.